Former Toronto FC coach John Carver said that one of the reasons he quit was because MLS ordered him to return to the sidelines after spending a game coaching from a private box, but Toronto FC general manager Mo Johnston said it was Toronto management who made the request. “John wanted to sit upstairs, we […]
Category: Story
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Players’ Superstitions: From Russian Lit to On-Field Urination
As part of an ongoing series, FIFA.com delves into some of oddest, goofiest and most manic superstitions of players around the world – present and past. About his slew of habits, Chelsea captain John Terry says: “I always sit in the same seat on the team bus, I always wrap tape round my socks three […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
New MLS Philly Franchise Takes Shape
Major League Soccer Philadelphia 2010 will unveil key pieces to the identity of the league’s newest club at Philadelphia’s City Hall on May 11. Hosted by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, the ceremony will unveil the club’s name, colors, logo and ticket pricing. “We’ve created an authentic brand that reflects Philadelphia’s deep-rooted history and the wealth […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Round of 16 Set for Copa Libertadores
Boca Juniors of Argentina and Ecuador's Deportivo Cuenca clinched the last two places in the Copa Libertadores round of 16 on Thursday. Boca trounced Venezuelan club Deportivo Tachira 3-0 in Buenos Aires to top Group 2, while Cuenca qualified by finishing second in the group after drawing 1-1 at Guarani of Paraguay. The knockout round […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ferdinand Could Play Second Leg Against Arsenal
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand could be available for next week’s Champions League semifinal at Arsenal. Tests cleared the center back of a cracked rib and serious injury. “It’s good news with Rio – it is not a cracked bone,” said United head coach Alex Ferguson, whose team beat Arsenal, 1-0, in the first leg. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Israeli Club Punished for Anti-Arab Chants
Beitar Jerusalem, the defending champion of the Israeli Premier League, was penalized a point and ordered to play a home match in an empty stadium after fans shouted anti-Arab slogans at a game against Maccabi Petah Tikva in April. Earlier this season, the league deducted two points from Beitar for fan violence. These penalties have […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
El Clasico Will Stop Country This Weekend
This weekend Spain's two biggest and richest clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, clash in "El Clasico." During the game the country is expected to grind to a halt. "The country is paralyzed. Shops are shuttered, the streets are empty. For 90 minutes the country only thinks about soccer," said radio journalist Maria Bretones on Friday. […]
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth Beat: The Girls Game – Higher Expectations
Anson Dorrance, the USA’s first world championship coach, and Pia Sundhage, its latest, share their views on how American girls soccer can keep getting better.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Cases that confound: Carver and Marrufo
I loathe announcers, be they soccer or otherwise, whose top-shelf method of conveying excitement or drama or surprise is to loudly wail the latest and lamest buzz-bellow, as in, “ARE YOU KIDDING MEEEEEE!?”
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Catch the USL Game of the Week on Friday as the Cleveland City Stars meet the Rochester Rhinos. The weekend includes a full slate of MLS action — including defending champ Columbus’ latest attempt to win its first game of the season, when it visits Toronto — and a WPS match between Washington and St. Louis. Americans in Europe in action this weekend include Michael Bradley, whose Borussia Monechengladbach faces Bayern Munich in its first game since the Juergen Klinsmann firing.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MPSF classes offer promise
All schools in the MPSF except Air Force, which does not announce incoming freshmen until they arrive on campus due to the appointment process, have announced their men’s recruiting classes. Top recruits in the MPSF include Alex Tarnoczi (Denver) and Jonny Espinoza (UNLV).
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SoCon teams load up on regional talent
All Southern Conference teams have also released their 2009 men’s signings. The Discoveries Soccer Club from South Carolina and Norcross Fury of Georgia, led all club teams with six and five SoCon signings, respectively.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MEN’S RECRUITING: ACC to Big East
The ACC, America East, Atlantic Soccer, Atlantic South, Atlantic-10 and Big East men’s recruiting classes, as released by their respective schools …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MEN’S RECRUITING: Big South to Horizon
The Big South, Big West, CAA, Conference USA and Horizon men’s recruiting classes, as released by their respective schools …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MEN’S RECRUITING: Ivy League to Northeast
The Ivy League, MAAC, Mid-American, Missouri Valley and Northeast men’s recruiting classes, as released by their respective schools …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MEN’S RECRUITING: Pac-10 to WCC
The Pac-10, Patriot, Summit, WCC and Independents men’s recruiting classes, as released by their respective schools …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Top men’s college recruiting classes
The College Soccer Reporter returns with Soccer America’s top 15 men’s college recruiting classes, version 2.0, and all the Division I signings for schools who have released their 2009 signings. Akron is No. 1, though two ACC schools have moved up on our list.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Michigan leads Big Ten
With the release of the Ohio State class on Thursday, the Big Ten is the first major men’s soccer conference in which every school has released its 2009 recruits. Players of note include U.S. U-18s Latif Alashe (Michigan) and Kevin Bick (Indiana) and 2008 NSCAA Division I Junior College Player of the Year Justin Meram (Michigan).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Week 6: Marta and Kelly Smith, the showdown
[WPS] The Los Angeles Sol’s Marta and Boston Breakers’ Kelly Smith return to WPS action after missing last week’s play, and they meet for the first time Saturday at Harvard Stadium. For a look at all the WPS weekend action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer rules on shirt scandal [VIDEO]
[MLS REF WATCH] No formal disciplinary action is being taken by the U.S. Soccer Federation against MLS referee Jair Marrufo after Cuauhtemoc Blanco gave the ref his jersey following the Chicago-Columbus game last Saturday. Marrufo, who was also seen chatting with Blanco before the game, has, however, been removed from his next scheduled game this weekend.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Have gloves will travel
[USL-1] Two weeks ago, MLS’s Real Salt Lake loaned Chris Seitz to the Cleveland City Stars. On Thursday, the 22-year-old keeper played for the Portland Timbers. Only this time the result was different.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Hamburg gains edge on the road
[UEFA CUP] A rare header by winger Piotr Trochowski gave Hamburg a 1-0 win at German rival Werder Bremen in the first leg of their UEFA Cup semifinal series on Thursday. The all-Ukrainian clash between Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk ended in a 1-1 tie.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Week 7: Seattle faces true test in Chicago
[MLS PREDICTIONS] Seattle’s trip to undefeated Chicago promises to be one of the weekend’s most intriguing matchups. Toronto aims for its first win in club history over Columbus, the defending champ that hasn’t won yet this season. D.C. United hosts FC Dallas, which has yet to win on the road. Colorado hosts Real Salt Lake in the “Rocky Mountain Cup.” Coach Bruce Arena‘s Galaxy has a home game opportunity to get its first win of the season when it hosts struggling New York. For all of Soccer America’s predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we fared last week …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Chivas and San Luis ordered to play to Colombia
[MEXICO] The Mexican soccer federation, which has already ordered all domestic games this weekend to be played behind closed doors in response to the influenza A outbreak, has agreed with Conmebol, the South American confederation, to move the next home games of San Luis and Guadalajara in the Libertadores Cup to Bogota, Colombia, on May 6.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brazilian clubs lead the way
[LIBERTADORES CUP] Five Brazilian clubs — including former champions Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, Gremio and Cruzeiro — advanced to the round of 16 of the Libertadores Cup, the South American club championship. Defending champion LDU Quito did not make it out of the group stage. Bolivia and Colombia were the only countries that did not have teams advance. For the 16 survivors …